badger48
Registered: December 2007
City/Town/Province: Chenango Forks
Posts: 1
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ECOLOGIST INITIATIVE SCHOLARSHIP
Presented by: Dave
My project for the Ecologist Initiative Scholarship is to develop and implement a Tree Planting Plan. My family owns and operates a Beef Farm along the Chenango River in Chenango Forks, NY. I will develop a plan specifically for this area and for the soil properties on our farm. We have about ¾ mile of river frontage that is very prone to flooding and bank erosion. My dream in doing this is to control the bank erosion and create a buffer zone suitable for birds and other wildlife.
I have researched the topic of planting trees along the riverbank and it seems that some trees and some spacing methods are preferable. Currently we are planning on using Green Ash, Hickory, Birch, Maple, Sawtooth Oak, Cherry and Cranberry, Redosier Dogwood and Blueberry bushes. All of the trees except the Ash, Birch, and Hickory will require tree tubes (plastic tubing that goes around the tree) to protect the bark from deer, rabbits, etc. We have about 1 ½ acres to plant and each acre requires approximately 450 trees. We are over planting with the assumption that approximately 60% of the trees and shrubs will survive. In the first area (Area 100) we will plant 5 rows of trees. The first row (closest to the river) will be spaced 10’ apart with a 2 trees to 1 shrub ratio. The second row (20’ from the river) with the same ratio. The third row (30’ from the river) with a 2 shrubs to 1 tree ratio. Fourth row (40’ from the river) with the same ratio. And Finally the fifth row with 50’ spacing and the same ratio. In the second area (Area 102) the same pattern is formed with only three rows of trees and shrubs. Tree mats will be placed at the base of the trees to prevent weed growth.
Tree Planting Plan Outline
1. Purpose
a. Prevent sediment, nutrients, animal waste and so on from reaching the river water
b. Provide habitat for wildlife
c. Improve water quality
d. Prevent bank erosion
e. Provide shade for aquatic species
2. Planning
a. Soil Types - To establish which plants can thrive in the soil types that make up our planting areas
1) Teel silt loam
-Deep, moderately drained, nearly level with areas of poorly drained teel soils making up about 15% of this unit
-Teel soils are strongly acidic to neutral
-Water movement through the soil is moderate, runoff slow
-Water Capacity is high and generally at a depth of 1.5-2 ft
2) Scio Silt Loam
- Nearly level, moderately well drained soil
with areas of well drained Unadilla and somewhat poorly
drained Wallington soils
-Also includes some areas in which the sandy, gravely, or clayey substratum is at a depth of less than 40”
3) Wallington Soil
-generally surrounded by better drained Scio soils
-Seasonally wet, shallow, with low fertility
-Suitable for crops, pasture or forest
4) Wayland Silt Loam
-found in low areas on flood plains along major rivers
-Wetness and flooding are major limitations
-Best suited to pasture
b. Tree/ Shrub Varieties that will survive in these soil types
1) Evergreen species
White Spruce-best suited for wet areas but grows well in a variety of soils
Austrian Pine-Tolerant of most soils will succeed in heavy clays with enough moisture
2) Deciduous species
Green Ash-adapts to a wide range of soils, withstands almost any pH and moisture level, rapid growing tree
Sugar Maple-Prefers moist, rich soil that is well drained
Silver Maple-Prefers wetland areas but adapts to a wide range of soils
Red Oak-Likes moist deep well drained soil with slight acidity
Sawtooth Oak-A fast growing tree that prefers well drained soil but will adapt to poor dry soils as well, produces acorns at a young age
Shellbark Hickory-Does well in deep moist to occasionally wet soils
River Birch-Likes rich deep acidic soils that are moist to wet
Black Cherry-Tolerates poor dry soils but does best in rich deep well drained soils
3) Shrubs
Stream Co Willow – Adapts to wet or poorly drained soils of variable pH
Redosier dogwood-Best for wet or swampy soil, has an excellent root system for holding soil
Cranberry-Roots have good soil holding ability, fruits are good for birds and wildlife
Blueberry-Prefers well drained sandy loam soil with a low pH,
Often found on the edges of marshes. Lakes, ponds and streams
3. Implementing
a. Plant trees and shrubs in early spring after the spring flooding while soils are still moist and plants will have adequate rainfall
b. Planting will be finished prior to July 15
c. Protect trees prone to damage from wildlife with tree tubes
d. Install tree mats to discourage competition from weeds and to retain moisture
e. Trees/shrubs will be permanently protected from livestock with the installation of High tensile fence to exclude these areas
f. Plants will be mixed so there will be no monoculture areas
Zone 1 area consists of 2 shrubs to 1 tree and will begin 15’ from river
Zone 2 area consists of 2 trees to 1 shrub and will begin 10’ from Zone 1
Zone 3 area consists of 2 shrubs to 1 tree and will begin 10’ from Zone 2
g. Rows will be spaced at 10 x 10 for shrubs and 10 x 10 to 12 x 12 for trees and will be staggered to allow for proper growth
h. Plants will be planted at a rate of 450 plants per acre and planted at
proper depth and firmly set
i. All rows will be marked with flags to help identify each row
4. Follow up and Maintenance
a. Periodically inspect riparian sites to determine damage caused by wildlife,
weather, and flooding
b. Replant dead trees to ensure that a 60% survivability rate is achieved
5. Shrubs Area 100: Species: Quantity:
Spacing 6 x 6 to10 x 10 Redosier Dogwood 50
Stream-co willow 30
Blueberry 120
Cranberry 50
Silky Dogwood 25
275
6. Trees Area 100: Species: Quantity:
Spacing 10 x 10 to 12 x 12 White spruce 20
Austrian Pine 25
Native Birch 20
Green Ash 25
Sugar Maple 25
Sawtooth Oak 20
Red Oak 10
Black Cherry 20
165
7. Shrubs Area 102: Species:
Red Osier Dogwood 50
Cranberry 50
StreamCo Willow 50
Silky Dogwood 25
175
8. Trees Area 102: Species:
White Spruce 80
Sawtooth Oak 30
Sugar Maple 25
Green Ash 75 210
Our Trees arrived April 20 and we began planting the next day. We used tree spades to make holes that were adequate for the roots on our trees. The soil was moist and very easy to work in. It took the three of us 4 days to plant the entire 825 trees and install the tree mats and tree tubes. The area after planting looks great. I am anxious to see the trees bud and begin to grow.
We have an area that is very brushy and wooded along the river toward the back of our property. This small amount of vegetation has held the river bank remarkable so I have the same hopes for my tree planting plan. My trees began budding mid to late May and I had excellent survival. I was most impressed with the Sawtooth Oak and Green Ash.
I think that projects like this are imperative for the sustainability of our Ecosystem and are critical for promoting clean air and clean waterways. I am glad that there are Scholarships such as the Apprentice Ecologist Initiative to promote the Environment for the enjoyment of people and for the preservation of habitat for our animals.
Please see the attached photos for pictures of the newly planted trees.
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